Just “Start”

The word “start” takes on so many different meanings. In a job search, it could mean pick up the phone and start reaching out to people that you know. In a launching a new career path, it could mean going back to school. Whatever current situation you are facing, the only control you have is whether or not you choose to start. There is power in starting, because things happen in a start.

Jon Acuff, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author has written a new book called Start. Last week, we discussed the challenges that people have when starting something new and what prevents most from following through on their career dreams.

It turns out the greatest barrier you face could be the conversations that take place inside your head. It’s not so much the shortage of opportunity in going after your dreams, it’s your ability to stand up and refute fear.

”Fear messages get the loudest when you are starting to take action”, said Jon when describing why people never make it pass the starting line. Fear messages are those internal doubts that take place whenever you attempt to take charge of something new, like a different career path.

Jon lists three fear messages that are the building blocks of discouragement and doubt;

Jon Acuff

Who are you to do that? The simple question that fears asks when you are doing something that matters. As a job seeker, your dreams of wanting to start a new career path can be blocked by doubt that you are not capable or lack the ability to change.

You are too late. This is the most interesting of all the fear messages — late to what? Yet, if fear can somehow influence your actions and delay your start, you will never know what could have happened. How can it be too late to start? Fear will use age, the economy and anything else that keeps you from launching your dreams.

It has to be perfect. According to Jon, fear and doubt are like crazy cousins that send schizophrenic messages when you are ready to move forward. Fear says, “It has to be perfect” and doubt says “It will never work”. Give yourself permission to be horrible the first time you start something — it’s OK.

Doubt and fear are like muscles, every time you believe a lie about yourself, it gets easier to believe it again the next time. If you wait 10 years waiting for fear to subside, you’ll just be 10 years older waiting to start moving toward your dreams.

If you are tired of letting fear control your dreams, there are two ways to diminish its influence on you.

Refute it! Fear hates to be exposed and the best way to lessen its grip is to talk back by writing your fear thoughts down. Every time you take a step forward and the voice of fear gets louder – stop and write what fear is saying to you. Jon suggests that you “scribble down as many messages as you can and refute them with truth.”

Share your thoughts with others. Fear does not succeed in stopping you when shared with others. The tactics of fear is to keep you isolated much like an emotional island, alone. That’s why there is power in groups and talking about fears in the open helps give you a true perspective.

This week, stop a moment and think about what keeps you from starting the path toward a happier career or healthier you.